perez



Sept 24, 1929- M. H. PREZ 1,729,183

ELECTRIC SADIRON 5 Sheets-Sheet l Original Filed Sept. 29, 1926 ZZ 50A,

34a El.' n E v Y IN VEN TOR.

ATTORNEY;

Sept. 24, 1929. M. H. PEREZ Y 1,729,183

ELECTRIC SADIRON y Original Filed Sept. 29, 1926 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 Sept- 24, 1929. 'M H. PREZ 1,729,183 l,

ELECTRIC SADIRON Original Filed Sept. 29, 1926 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 IN VEN TOR.'

45 'l l I .4f 42 ATTORNEY.

4Patented sept. 24, 1929 `UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE MANUEL HUMBERTO PREZ, or SAN PEDRO siate, CORTEZ, noNnURns, essie-Non ADRIANA GUZMAN, Or New YORR, N.

ELECTRIC Application led September 29, 1926, Serial This invention relates to electrically heat. ed sad irons and to means for heating the saine.

Electrically heated sad irons of the usual type are ordinarily provided with self-contained heating units, in the form of resist a n ce coils, located therein, current. being supplied to such units, to heat the iron, through a conductor cord coupled to the iron itself when in use and which conveys the electricity there to from a source of current, such as ahouse lighting system. The conductor cord is thus manipulated with the iron in the service use of the latter and besides being the cause of much annoyance `and inconvenience for this reason, is a source of danger for many other reasons well-known to those versed in the art. In order to'overcome the known ob jet-tions to the use of a conductor attached to and movable with the iron, it has been proposed to employ an electrically heated stationary base Or stand on which the iron is placed when it is desired to heat it, the conductor being attached to the base, instead of to the iron, to supply the electric current to the heating` units directly mounted in the base, thus obviating the ob3ectionable use'of a conductor cord movable with the iron. rl`his removal of the heating elements from the iron itself is, however, wasteful of current and heat, since the iron, in the absence of the heat stored up in the heating elements, becomes cooled more quickly and has to be more frequently heated and, during the use of the iron, the heat stored up in the base is largely evaporated and lost.

One object of my invention is to provide an iron and heating means therefor which overcomes these several objections, and in -which the heating units are contained in the iron itself and the current supplying connectionsfor the same, including the conducting cord, are attached to and contained with- -in a base on which the iron is to be placed to bc heated, the iron carrying current controlling connections and the iron and base having coacting circuit making` and breaking devices iron is respectively applied to and removed therefrom, whereby the conductor cord and coupled and uncoupled when the SAD'IRON No. 138,424. Renewed December 12, 1928.

other inconvenient extraneous parts are re# moved from the iron, while the eating units are retained in the iron, thus maintaining the stored heat of the heating units in the iron and at the saine time freeing the iron from the annoyance and dangers incident to hai/ -4 ing the conductor cord attached thereto and necessarily movable therewith.

Another object of the invention is to provide a reliable and efficient mode of mounting the resistance units and simple and e'tifective current controlling means whereby, in the event of the burning out of one nnit, another unit may be coupled up for n also to provide means whereby both may be employed to supply the heat deslice,

Still another object of the invention is provide an iron the acting surface, at least, of which is composed of a materialfwhich is an electric insulator, and thus ada tedf'to reduce liability of short circuits 'an `sho'elts to the operator, and which at the same time has the capacity of being highly heated but of slowlygiving off its heat to the atmosphere, thus producing an iron which will not quickly cool but will retain its heat for av long period after being heated.

* Still another object of the invention is to generally improve vand increase the efficiency of irons of this character.

rThe invention consists of the features of construe-tion, combination and arrangement of parts, hereinafter fully described and claimed, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, in whichz- .Figure l is a View, partly in side elevation, and partly in vertical longitudinal section, of a sad iron embodying my invention.

Figure 2 is a. sectional plan view on line 2-2 of Figure l.

1. on a reduced scale, on line 3.3, of Figure l.

Figure is a plan View of the hand wheel and pointer.

Figure 5 is a detail section showing one of the contact lingers4 coacting with the brushes.

Figure 6 is a vertical, longitudinal section through the base or stand and the body of the iron resting thereon.

h lgure 3 is a Vertical transverse section,

Figure 7 is a top planview ot thel stand.

Figure 8 is a vertical longitudinal section on line S-b ol Figure 7.

Figure 9 is a. similar view on line 9-@9 of Figure 7.

Figure 10 is a cross-section on line 10-10 o1" Figure 9.

Figure 11 is a cross-section on line 11-11 otl Figure 7.

Figures l2 to 14, inclusive, a re views sl'iowing the parts of the switch mechanism in ditliercntv working positions and showing also related positions ot the hand wheel with dial thereon,

.Figure is a view of the form or core and the resistance units wound thereon.

In carryingmy invention int-o practice, I provide a sad iron proper l, and a base or stand 2 on which the iron is adapted to be rested when not. in use or while it is being heated for use, the two being normally separate units but adapted tor cooperation for the heating function so that the iroumay bc employed in accordance with the toregoiug statement ot the objects of the invention and as hereinafter fully described.

The iron 1 comprises a hollow body portion 1 iorn'ling a heating' chamber 3 and having a smooth bottom ironing surface 4, a cover plate 5 closing the top ot said chamber 8, a top or housing plate 6, standards 7 fixed to and rising from the plate G, and a handle 8, of insulating material, carried by the. standards, whereby the iron is adapted to be carried and manipulated in the usual way. These parts are detachably united at the point and heel corners by bolts S) and 10, respectively, engaging threaded countersunk bushings 11 and l2 lying flush with the hottorn ot the iron, the bolt 9 and its bushing 11 forming one ol the circuit contacts and conductors, as hereinafter described. The chamber 3 encloses a heat-ing element ot novel type, said element comprising a formblock or core 13 of porcelain or other suitable electric insulatingl material, ot the general shape ot the iron body and suitably secured in chaniber 3, and having its edge portions provided with two sets of alternately disposed notchesl .ift and 15, said block carrying at its toe portion. a binding post 1G and at its heel portion a pair of spaced binding posts 17 and 18. A resistance wire or wires 1i) is or are anchored to the binding post 1G and thence Wound spirally around the block, from the toe to the heel end thereof, and engaging the respective notches 14 and 15, forming units 20 and 21 terminating at the heel end o'f the block and lixed tothe respective binding posts 17 and 18. A continuous double resistance unit is thus provided capable ot being used as such, and of which the members 20 and 21 form separate and independent resistance units capable ot' being used as such, maxi` mum simplicity of construction being thereby secured. These resistance units may be of the same or different resistance values as desired, by varying their effective lengths, or making them of wire sections of different resistances. Fastened to the upper surface of cover 5 are pole plates 22 and .23, and bolt 9, hereinbefore described, passes upwardly through cover 5 and plate 22 and thus electrically connects the bushing 1l with said plate 22, the bushing, bolt and plate forming one pole Of the electricalconnections to the coil. Plate 23 is provided with a downturned contact 24 and forms therewith the other pole ot the electrical connections to the coil, as hereinafter fully appear. The posts 17 and 18 extend 'from block 13 upward through cover plate 5, and electrically conneeted with post 17 are spaced contacts'25 and 26 and electrically connected with post 1S is a Contact 27. Carried also by the cover 5, for coaetion with the brush 26, are cont-acts 2W- 26", which are connected respectively with the coil windings 21 and 2() at suitable points in the length thereof, i. e., at such points as may be desired in practice for employing dille-rent etlective amounts ot' the coil windings both less than the sum total ot the winding in order that the heating action may be varied, as hereinafter described.

Switch mechanism carried by the iron is provided for controlling the flow ot' current to the resistance units and thus governing the heat supplied therefrom to the iron to heat the lat-ter to any given degree within avgiven period ot time. This switch mechanism comprises a pair of switch plates 28 and 29 mounted, like the plates 22 and 2?, on the cover 5 and between the same and the top plate 6, which plate 6 is hollowed on its underside to provide an enclosing chamber for the said switch mechanism. The switch plate 28 is mounted centrally/ to swing later-A ally on a pivotal axis il() and is provided with a spring contact brush 26', while the switch plate 29 is pivotally coupled, as at 31, to the plate 23, to swing laterally, and is provided with `.spring contact brushes and 27 and electrically connected b v the pivot member 3.1 to said plate 23. The two plates are me` clranically coupled to swing laterally in 'reverse directions by means of a contact member or roller 32 carried by the forward end of the plate 29 which slidably and pivot-ally engages a slot 33 in the rear end of the plate 28, the member or roller 32 being made of some suitable electric non-coiulucting ma-l terial, so that the switch plates 28 and 29v are pivotally coupled for movement in unison but are at all times electrically insulated so far as any direct electrical connection between them is concerned. The other or forward end of the switch plate 28 is provided with a slot 311 receiving a roller 35 on one `handle 8, so as to give indication for end ot an actuatingv lever 36, said roller 35 forming an electricalconnection between the the-front standard 7 and suitably journaled' in the top plate 6 and in hearings on said standard and carrying at its upper end a hand wheel 40, by means of which the lever 36 may be rocked laterally in either direction to transmit motion to the switch plates. The hand wheel 40 is provided with a dial bearing therein the indications X, 0, 1, 2, for co` operation with a fixed pointer 41 on the positive adjustments of the hand wheel to adpist the parts ot' the switch mechanism to the positions shown in Figures 5 and 12 to 14, inclusive, for controlling the supply ot' electric current to the resistance units.

The base or stand 2 comprises in lits construction bottom and top platesor sect-ions respective l bushings 47 v-bo`dy49 maybe made of porcelain or other :'to grip the rods, the ensure a .nection between them.

42 and 43 provided on their kmeeting faces with spacing project-ions 44, said plates 42 and 43 being united by screws or other suitable fastenings 44. Extending longitudinally between the plates 42`and 423 and held confined in grooves between the spacing members 44 are conductor rods 45 and 46, the forward ends of which project into a space between the forward ends of the plates 42 and 43 and are adapted to be engaged by conductingbushings 4 7 and 48 in the connection' plug 49, to which the feed conductors are'secnred, the positive and negative wires of said conductor being coupled to the and 48. The plug suitable insulating material formed in sectionsunited by screws or other suitable fast- 'enings 51 to admit of the prima-ry reception of the bushings 47 and 48. These bushings, it desired, may be split for a spring action positive con- Plug 49 is adapted to be inserted and held between the spaced forward portions of the plates 42 and 43, and

the conductor 5() in pactice may lead from the outlet ol' a house-lighting or other suitable elect-ric circuit. The two conductors 45 and 46 are electrically insulated by the nia.- terial of the base plates from each other, but the conductor is electrically connected with a contact piece or stud 52 lying; fiush or substantiallyso with the upper tace of the top plaie 4? at its toe portion, while the conductor 46 is electrically connected with a contact plate or piece '5I- located at the heel cud ol the base. The plate 43 is provided with a raised flange 51 extending around its rlhe lever 36 is also provided` toe portion and sides, forming a shallow chamber or recess to receive the bottom of the iron 1, said chamber or recess being open at the rear to permit thtA iron lo be slidably inserted and removed. The tlange 54 turtlier serves as a guide to properly position the iron so that, when the iron is seated there` on, the-contaet member 11 thereof will engage the contact member 52,' while the contact member 27 will engage the contact member 53, thus automatically coiiplinU the circuit supplying connections 'on the ase with the switch mechanism of -t-heiron when the iron is placed on the base for the heating action, and breaking the circuit connections above-described.when `the iron is removed from the base, as will be readily understood.

Reference is made to Figure 2 and Figures 12 to 14, inclusive, for a clear understanding of the operation of the switch mechanism in its adjustments todiierent positions from a neutral position to cut off current from the resistance units or to supply current for the purpose of heating such resistance units as required to heat the iron to a determined temperature within any givenv time. As stated, the parts 9 and 22 represent one pole (for example, the negative pole) of the circuit, coupled to the negative wire of the conductor 50 through the Contact 52, whilethe parts 23 and 53 represent the other or positive pole of the circuit when brought together., part- 53 being connected to the positive Wire of conductor 50, and such poles being capable of connection for current flow when the iron is seated on the stand, but being normally electrically disconnected. Figure 2 shows the parts ot the switch mechanism in the. position they occupy when the hand wheel 40 is in zere position, in which position both switch plates 28 and 29 are out of connection with the contacts 25,26, 26, 26 and 27, from which it will be understood that no flow of current is permitted through the resistance unit-s. When the hand wheel 40 is turned to the indicating position marked 1, parts'of the switch mechanism will be adjusted to the position shown in Figure 12, in which contact brush 26 of switch plate 28 will engage Contact piece 26, while contact brush 27 ot switch plate 29 will engage contact member 27. Current will thus be allowed to flow from pole 53 through contact 24 to pole plate 23, contacts 27-27, binding post 18, through coil winding 21 to junction point 16, thence through coil winding4 20 to binding post 17, contacts 2G--27', switch plates 28, lever 29, late 22 and bolt 9 to the opposite pole 52', w iereby current is caused to flow through both resistance units 2O and 21 for a maximum heating effect. When the hand wheel 40 is turned to the position which the switch plates will he swung to the opposite position from that shown in Figure Cil 12 and in which brush 25 engages with brush and brush 26 engages with contact 26, thus bringing all of resistance unit 21 and a number of turns ot' resistance unit 2O into a, closed circuit. As a result current will flow from pole 52 to and through contact 24 to switch plate 29, to binding post 17 through contacts 25 25, through coil unit 20 to junction point 16, through a portion of coil unit 2l to and through contacts 2G-26 to switch plate 28, and thence through lever 36, plate 22 and bolt 9 to the opposite pole 52. When the hand wheel l() is moved to the .position marked X, the switch mechanism is adjusted f to the position shown in Figure 14, in which position switch member 29 is shifted to bring its brush 27 .into engagement! with contact 27, and switch member 28 is shifted to bring its brush 2G into engagement with contact 2Gb, thus bringing all ot resistance unit 2O and a part of resistance unit 21 into a closed circuit. (lurrcntwill then flow from pole 53 through contact 24, plate 23, switch member 25 and contacts 27 and 27 to coil winding 21, through said winding to junction point 1G', through a portion ot coil 2O to contact 2Gb, and from said contact through brush 26, to switch member 2S, lever 36, plate 22 and bolt 9 to theA other pole 52. The adjustment of the switches to the positions shown in Figures 13 and 14.- provides for a; reversal ot the current flow through the resistance units so that by proper arrangement ot contacts 26"-26, each of which may be placed at any desired turn in the unit with which it is connected, two possible variations or reductions from a full heating action, such as secured by the switching arrangement illustrated in Figure 12, may be obtained, and which may vary from each other within any determined caloric ranges Jfound necessary or deemed desirable. By properly positioning one or the other of the contacts QCM-26b in its winding at or near thc junction point 1G, in the event of such winding being burnt out between the Contact therein and the associated binding post 17 or 1S. the current may be directed to utilize the other winding for a heating action, as will be, readily understood. Movement of thel hand wheel from any of such positions back to the zero position will result in the shifting of the lswitch mechanism to the position shown in Figure 2, in which, while the contact members 10 and 52..;,1nd 24 and 5? may still be in engagement with each other, no current can flow through either resistance unit.

lt will be seen from the foregoing dcscription that a construction ot'iron is provided which carries its electrical heating element, and means for controlling the supply et current thereto. but in which the current supplying connections, including the conductor core, are wholly disassociatcd from the iron, so that the iron may be used like any ordinary iron, without appendages or intertering connections, or others liable to cause danger or trouble in service through movel" ments ot' the iron,"breakage of wires or accidents of other kinds. Also that the invention providc's'a stand or base on which the iron may be rested when not in use, and which base carries the current supplying connections for furnishing a current to the resistance coils for the purpose of heat-ing the iron, and that through the switch mechanism on the iron body, the resistance units thereon may be coupled to or uncoupled from said current supplying connections, so that the base may be used as a conductor connection for the iron When desired or as an ordinary rest for the iron when desired. As the base may be mounted in fixed position at any point, and the current supplying connections thereon and coupled thereto arc not subject to breakage or derangement from movements, it is obvious that greater safety, comfort and convenience are afforded in the use of a base of this character with permanently mounted current supplying connections entirely separate from the iron itself. It will be observed that the simple act of placing the iron in position upon the stand will dispose it in position so that, through its switch mechanism, current will be supplied for the purpose of heating the iron through the heating units as desired, and that, when the iron is removed from the base, the current supply is automatically cut oft', irrespective of the position ot the switch mechanism, thus giving additional degree of safety. Y

In practice, the body of the iron, including its acting bottom surface, 4, may be made of metal or any suitable conducting material, but I preferably make the iron body of an electric non-conductor, such as porcelain, as this material, besides being a non-conductor of electricity, and hence affording greater safety against short-circuits or shocks, possesses the capacity of absorbing and storing heat to a very high degree and of retaining the heat for a longer period than metal, so that heat losses due to radiation when the iron is heated but not in actual use, will be reduced to a large citent` avoiding waste of time and current incident to such losses and the necessity of heating the iron at frcquent periods to maintain a working-heat.

Having thus fully described my invention, I claim:-

1. In an electrically heated sad iron, an iron body, a resistance unit in said iron, contacts carried by the body, one thereof being exposed through the iron face, a supporting stand for the iron, pole pieces carried by said stand for engagement with said contacts when the iron is placed thereon, and means for connecting a current supply conductor with said pole pieces.

2. An electrically heated sad iron and stand therefor, comprising an iron body, a

resistance unit therein, a. Contact exposed through the face of the body and electrically connected with a terminal of said unit, a contact carried by and overlying the heel of the 5 body and electrically connected with a terminal of said unit, a supporting stud, a pole piece exposed upon the surface of the stand for engagement Withthe first-mentioned contact, a pole piece carried by and exposed at the rear of said stand for engagement With the heel contact, and means for supplying current to said pole pieces.

3. In an electrical sad iron and stand therefor, a hollow iron body, a resistance unit in said body, a contact exposed on the face of the iron ad]acent the nose thereof and having electrical connectionwith one end of said unit, a contact member overlying the heel of the body and electrically connected With the other end of the unit, a supporting stand for the iron, a pair of electrical conductors extending longitudinally therethrough, a pole piece connected with one conductor and exposed through the surface of the stand for '25 contact with the nose contact of the iron when placed on the stand, and an upstanding pole piece projecting from one end of the stand for engagement with the heel contact of the iron. In testimony whereof I aix my Signature.

MANUEL HUMBERTO PREZ. 

